PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1580, 25 October 1912, Page 6

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

THE ANNUAL SYNOD. The annual Synod of . the Primitive Methodist Church (Wellington district) was opened yesterday morning by tho retiring president; the Rev. P. J. Cossii'in, assisted by the Rev. T. Coatsworth, district representative. » After devotional exercises the delegntes were received, anil the Synod constituted. The election of officers' resulted as. follows:—President, The Eev. J. Southern; vice-president, Mr. S. G. Hoarc; secretary, the Eev. C. A. Sims; assistant-secretary, the Rev. 11. Daniel; reporters, the Revs. J. Sharp and W. S. Potter; letter writer, the Rev. P. J. Cossum; receivers of conncxional f nnds, the Rev. P. J. Cossum and Mr. S. Read.

The Eev. P. J. Cossum delivered his retiring address, which was well received. After referring to the loss of the Foxton Church through fire, and several other matters of a statistical character relating to the denomination, the speaker referred to the fact that while at the last election there was a majority of .51,000 of the voters of this Dominion in favour of the prohibition of the liquor traffic, the evil still continues, owing to the unjust and undemocratic provision which bolsters up tho trade. In view of the approaching union of the Methodist Church of this Dominion, Mr. Cossum referred at some length to the question of the future of Methodism in New Zealand, as to its message and influence.

The station reports were carefully examined. ■ The statistics for tho district are as follows,-: —Members, 697 (increase 17); ministers, 13; home missionary, 1; and class leaders, 3. Oilier preaching places, 11; local preachers, 49. Reference was made to' the splendid services being ronderal by the two supernumerary ministers (the' Revs. J. Dumbell and V. W. Jones). A regular service has been established at Paremata and Tβ Ara Kura.

The examination of the church property showed that there were twenty churches costing ..£13,42-1, having a debt of .£4718. There were ten houses, costing ,£GISG, having n debt of ,£986. The value of the property in the district was estimated to bo ,£20,839, having a debt of .£5704. About ,£2OO was paid off the debt during the year. Sunday school statistics showed 2G schools (increase 1). J6G teachers (increase 11). scholars 13G8 (decrease 24).

Special invitations for ministers remaining on their circuits for more than a third year—the Rev. P. ,T. Cossuni, to Wellington I. a fourth year; the Kev. W. S. Potter, Wellington 11, a fifth year; and Hie Rev. J. Sharp, FeUding, for a fourth yenr.